MRSA is a bacterial infection caused by the antibiotic-resistant strain of staphylococcus called Staphylococcus aureus. It primarily affects the skin and its underlying tissues. A MRSA infection can be fatal if left untreated and is commonly referred to as a flesh-eating bacterium. Certain herbs may be helpful in slowing the spread of a MRSA infection and speeding recovery; however, herbs can produce side effects. Consult your health practitioner before using herbs and never self-treat a MRSA infection with herbs.
Definition
MRSA resists treatment of most antibiotics. It produces cellulitis and blood poisoning, which rapidly degrades skin and underlying tissues. A MRSA infection may initially start as a boil or other infected skin lesion that becomes highly sensitive, painful and hot to the touch. If you see red lines extending from the source of the infection outward, it means you need immediate medical treatment due to the presence of blood poisoning. A MRSA infection can appear in any organ of the body. Two types of MRSA are prevalent: hospital MRSA, which is very common in all hospitals, and community MRSA, which is found in places where many people gather in one place. If you think you may have contracted MRSA, see your health practitioner at once.
Echinacea
Used for centuries to boost the immune system, echinacea is often prescribed to fight a variety of infections, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Although echinacea is primarily used today for treating colds and the flu, it was traditionally used to treat serious, often life-threatening illnesses. Traditional herbalists used echinacea to treat open sores and wounds, blood poisoning, syphillitic lesions, diphtheria, and other bacterial-related diseases, adds UMMC. Anecdotal evidence still points to the efficacy of echinacea in the treatment of MRSA.
Echinacea is available at health food stores in powdered and liquid extracts. It is most potent when used in liquid tinctures, available from herbal pharmacies. The potency and quality of the multitude of brands varies, so it is important to ensure you are buying from a reputable company or herbalist whose product is frequently rotated on the shelf because of high turnover. Echinacea may cause a rash or other allergic skin reaction. Stop using it if you develop unusual symptoms. Contact an herbalist or your health practitioner for specific guidelines for use.
Hochu-ekki-to
Some MRSA infections respond to an herbal product called hochu-ekki-to, which is used extensively in Japan to treat bacterial infections, according to MedlinePlus. Hochu-ekki-to is a mixture of several herbs known to fight infection, including ginseng, an immune system stimulant. MedlinePlus points out that patients using hochu-ekki-to for several months showed a significant reduction in symptoms from a MRSA infection affecting the urinary tract. Additional research is needed into the efficacy of hochu-ekki-to. Consult your health practitioner or a doctor of Asian medicine to purchase hochu-ekki-to and for treatment guidelines.
Pau d'Arco Tea
Pau d'arco tea has been used for centuries by South and Central American herbalists to treat infections and enhance the immune system. Pau d'arco is a bark that contains the active ingredient lapachol. Years of anecdotal evidence indicates pau d'arco's efficacy for the treatment of bacterial, viral and fungal infections, including MRSA, according to the University of Colorado at Denver. Pau d'arco is best consumed as an herbal tea and is available at many health food and herbal stores. Pau d'arco can thin the blood, so do not use it for medicinal purposes without first consulting your health practitioner. Do not use pau d'arco if you are pregnant or nursing. Speak to your herbalist for treatment guidelines.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: MRSA Treatment
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Echinacea
- "Phytomedicine"; Bactericidal and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of a Standardized Echinacea Extract (Echinaforce): Dual Actions Against Respiratory Bacteria; S.M. Sharma; July 2010
- Paudarco.org: Pau d'Arco Benefits
- MedlinePlus: Ginseng
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Cellulitis
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